Aquatic life 8 1917

^L

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breeds of gold fish the year round. conditions we still succeed in showing an unusual good variety of and imports are coming in quite frequently. plants and snails. in aquatic

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gal.

$8.00

MUSEUM AQUARIA EDGAR Director,

R.

WAITE.

South Australian

F.

L.

S.

Museum

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

;;

flquatU

152

from back to front than either of them this was glazed with opal glass to exclude excess of light, dust and fingers.

A small cup-hook was put into the lower side of the frame at each end and, vertically below each hook, a ^-inch hole

was bored through the base board. small screw-eye was next soldered

A into

IKr

from the light of sunny Australia. This was done by means of two sheets of one opalized to diffuse the light and confine attention to the inmates in-

glass,

stead

of

permitting

of

inspection

the

view outside the window, and the other

when

of green color to be used

direct

upon the aquaria.

These sheets rested upon the felt on the baseboard and were inclined backwards sunlight

fell

above, being caught by a

fillet

underside of the frame, which

remembered

is

on the be

will

three inches wider than

Ample

the accumulator jars.

Is

it

air space

thus insured between the glass sheets

and the wall of the aquarium, a provision

made

to counteract the heating rays of

the sun

To

coming through the window.

feed the inmates or clean the ves-

the attendant gives the thumbscrews two or three turns and unhooks the rods from the frame the rods drop to the sels,

;

baseboard, but cannot

owing to the the frame is

fall to

the ground,

size of the screw-eyes.

As

lifted the vertical sheets of

glass are allowed to rest against the win-

dow

pane, and are replaced against the

when the operation is The photograph shows

finished.

fillet

ment as seen from the

the

arrange-

Two

front.

labels

are placed beneath each vessel, one giving the

name

of the plant and the other

The

that of the animal occupant. illustrates the fittings as seen

sketch

from one

end.

one end of a ^-inch brass-cased rod, was passed through the hole in the

this

hung on

and cut off inch below the board it was tapped for I inch and fitted with a thumbscrew the end was drilled and a split ring fitted. board,

the cup-hook

^

;

Two

Kindness is

is

Courage

contagious.

is

contagious.

Manly

contagious.

integrity

All positive virtues with

red blood in their veins are contagious.

Henry Van Dyke.

such rods were, of course prepared

for each

set.

It

As window blinds are furnished for the Museum, and not for the aquaria, it

Diseases are not the only thing that are contagious.

became necessary

to shield the latter

more

were happy

we

if

in natural things

;

studied

nature

and acted accord-

ing to nature, whose rules are few, plain and most reasonable. William Penn.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

GopKer Frog

Florida DR.

Figure

1.

GopKer Frog

R.

(

Rana oesopus).

This curious American frog was originally described by Professor

Cope and

named Rana oesopus, receiving its vernacular name of Gopher frog from the habit

gopher son

has of hiding in holes of the

it

breeding sea-

tortoise, after the

which time

over, at

is

disposition. In

restricted

to

its

range

it is

it

of solitary

appears to be

the peninsula

of

C

W. SHUFELDT,

Florida,

Natural

size,

from

M.

Z.

S.

life

in numerous other however for, during the month of March, 191 7, Mr. Nelson R.

undoubtedly occurs localities,

Wood,

;

Museum,

of the U. S. National

collected a fine specimen at Auburndale,

Florida,

and sent was in

individual

it

north

my

alive.

This

possession for a

few hours, during which time three or four negatives of

it

;

I

made

three of

having, up to recent time, been collected

these have been reproduced to illustrate

Micanopy, Clarcona, Orlando, Ozona, and Lake Jessup as a matter of

the present account (Figures 1-3).

only

at

;

fact

it

is

rather rare in collections.

It

One

of the peculiar characters of this

batrachian are the several dark brown

a

laquatk

154 spots on the irides of the eyes

;

they are

very striking, and at once command our The animal may grow to be attention.

some four inches

known

in

length, and

fact that the female

Some

the male.

is

it

is

a

larger than

of the books give other

measurements very fully, and its topoanatomy has likewise been Individuals touched upon by authors.

graphical

ILitt

even grayish or light pur-

ish shade, or

Dorsally, the warts are yellowish,

plish.

and the

lateral

much dark

while

folds

brilliant

speckling

orange,

seen on this

is

part of the body, as well as on the

lips,

the jaws being unusually massive.

The

dark tympanum upon either side has a light-colored spot occupying its centre.

Limbs barred with dark brown

trans-

versely, five of these being very conspicu-

ous on the

Taken

legs.

altogether,

is

it

with respect to

species

most striking

a

appearance,

its

and certainly a very peculiar one in regard to its habits.

So well is this all shown in the figures that any further description here would consume space to no end. It is readily distinguished from other species of our frogs, as from R. areolata, and still more so from R. pipiens or R. palustris.

At

either shoulder the

Gopher frog has

a large vocal pouch, capable of inflation

marked degree.

These pouches are and they give, most unusual appearance when fully into a

found only

in the male,

flated.

Gopher frogs are very clever at hiding, and when doing so they change color at will, assuming a whitish tinge, or brown,

Some-

or deep purple, to intense black. times,

when handled,

from the skin

the animal secrets

a peculiar secretion,

which

has by no means a pleasant odor.

Mary Figure 2 and 3.

Dorsal and ventral views of the

same specimen shown

From \ary

in

their general

being of a

Beneath,

it

light, is

in

Figure 1

Life

coloration,

some

others of a dark brown.

glistening white, the throat

and hind limbs being shaded with pale gray, the former beautifully speckled with spots of various forms these occur also on the limbs, while but few are found elsewhere. Specimens have been taken having the upper parts of a yellow;

C. Dickerson, a great authority

on our batricians, has pointed out in her "Frog Book" that this "frog is so wary

and has such strong habits of hiding, that but few specimens have come to light.

The wariness in a habit

of this species has resulted

of spasmodic instead of con-

tinuous activity.

Its

method,

the cricket grasshopper,

observe.

minutes

It

is

remains absolutely quiet for

at a time, relying

tive coloration, until the

nigh upon

it.

like that of

ludicrous to

When

the

on

its

danger

protecis

well-

movement comes,

;

Aquatic with startling suddenness and dis-

is

it

155

JLitt

Notes on the Diatoms

patch, leaving the frog statuesque again

and observant, but

new

in a

place"

ANNA

The specimen Mr.

Wood

collected ap-

peared to be quite at

home

in the

and when

water,

alone in an aquarium jar

left

morning be squatting down among some dark-

for the night, he

was seen

in the

colored stones in a peculiar attitude

he

;

had assumed an almost entirely deep black color that was quite protective.

Gopher frogs feed upon small birds and insects, but most commonly upon toads, the last giving them no end of discomfort on account of the acrid secretion from their parotid glands.

Indeed, after a meal upon a big toad, this frog has been observed to go through a .series of somewhat extraordinary spasmodic movements, frantically trying to clear its

mouth with

fore

its

of the semi-

feet

poisonous juice the batracian he had en-

deavored to swallow had squirted into

So big

is

frog that

it

however, that

feat,

it.

mouth of this Gopher can manage to swallow a

the

full-grown specimen of our

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a

BEWLEY

are among the most interand fascinating subjects that may

The diatoms

195)-

to

K.

(p.

There

appears to enjoy.

common in

it

is

toad

no way

much

to be

esting

be

with the compound micro-

studied

They can

scope.

well be termed ubiquit-

ous, because they are present in ters,

fresh and

from pole

salt,

wa-

all

to pole.

Naturalists formerly classed the diatoms as animals in consequence of their

power

of movement, but further study with the

improved microscopes, and con-

aid of

firmed by chemical research, resulted in a transfer to the vegetable kingdom.

The

plant consists of a silicious en-

velope

three

in

somewhat

joined

parts

after the

manner

together

of the old-

fashioned cardboard pillboxâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; top and bottom caps held together by a ring. They are of every conceivable shape, but are

miscroscopic

in

all

Their great

size.

marking or sculpAlmost every imaginable geometric design is imitated, and the resemblance is sometimes indicated by beauty consists

in the

ture of the envelope.

the

name

Heliopclta,

:

the

sun-shield

The

Arachnoidiscus, like a spider's web.

markings on the valves of some species

means

learned about this species yet, and speci-

are not by any

mens

even with the highest magnification and

will be

welcome from any one

ing in those parts of Florida where

livit

is

careful manipulation of the microscope.

Plenrosigma, a favorite species to test

found.

the

A

stingy angler

was

on a Scottish loch on a drenching day.

He had been consoling himself from his flask and forgetting his the

man

if

Presently he asked

gillie.

there

fishing

was

a dry place

on the

boat on which to strike a match.

"You might gillie;

easily discerned,

"it's

try

my

throat," said the

dry enough."

power of an instrument, appears,

when magnified 500 marked by

practice

;

a treatise

written by a

centurv.

of carp

is

usually larger than those of fresh water.

Little

a very ancient

on the subject was

Chinaman

during^ the third

be

(90,000 would

measure but an inch across), but when magnified 2800 diameters the design is found to be reticulated resembling bobThe species of salt water are inette. is

portance

The rearing

diameters, to

parallel lines

known

of

the

young

fishes,

found

in their

in regard to the

diatoms as

though

they

food

have

imfor

been

stomachs, but they form

the food of oysters

and other molluscs,

and have been found

in the gizards of

—

—

laquatu lite

156 fish-eating birds

and

in

guano.

Dr. Car-

it

be pure and not contain other matter

penter considers that the diatoms are an

difficult to separate.

important factor in maintaining the equihbrium of Hfe in the South Polar Ocean,

lected in

"since there

is

a

marked

deficiency in

this region of the higher forms of vege-

tation,

were

it

not for them there would

be neither food for aquatic animals, nor (if it were possible for these to maintain

The fresh-water

species

springs and

may

be col-

roadside ditches,

appearing as dark amber patches. Almost

pure

can

collections

pipette,

be

and may be seen

They

sunlight.

made with

grow almost

will

a

to glisten in the indefi-

themselves by preying on one another)

which may be termed "micro-aquaria," and will be a

could the ocean be purified of the car-

continual source of delight to those hav-

nitely

small vessels,

in

bonic acid which animal respiration and

ing a microscope with which to study

decomposition would be continually im-

them.

parting to

it."

In

some one

aged, and

is

value,

line is to

be encour-

indeed necessary,

order

in

where one's work

to reach a point real

research, while special-

all scientific

ization in

we should

yet

build

is

on

of a

broad foundation, by acquiring a good

'^

general knowledge of scientific subjects, for by so doing

we

are better able to

wrestle with the problems Arachnoidiscus

Heliopelta Drawnings

The diatoms play economy

part in the

by

in

we

are sure

Lorquinia.

Author

a not inconsiderable

of

E. E. Hadlcy

to meet.

mankind

as they

form a component part of metal polishes Quite a number of much-used tooth and metal pol-

None how to

but

the

man knows

well-bred

confess a fault, or acknowledge

himself in error.

that are abrasive in action.

I have a slide of forms taken from "Silver Suds" polishing powder, which was prepared by Mr. Frank J. Keeley. The wellknown "turkey-stone." so much used for sharpening edged tools, is composed of the remains of diatoms. Throughout the world there are numerous almost pure

"Why

ishes contain them.

freshwater

fossil deposits, often of considerable extent.

Richmond. Virginia,

is

underlaid

by a stratum of diatoms, in some places lying fifty feet below the surface. Such deposits were formed while the locality was under water, and similar ones are It is from such being formed today. fossil

formations

that

the

material

is

taken for commercial purposes, provided

does

the

Professor

those letters tacked on to his

have

all

name?"

"That shows he got there by degrees."

—Exchange.

Aquatic Life has proven very tive

a sacrilege

MEisTER,

attrac-

would seem almost to criticise it.— Alrich BurManager, Pacific Goldfish

and helpful.

It

Company.

I

of

am my

inclosing one dollar for renewal

subscription

number was worth more

In your last that

of

the

year's

to I

to

Aquatic Life. found an

me

article

than the cost

subscription.

John

C.

White, Alabama.

i

ScKomburgki

Pol3)centrus

WALTER LANKfOY

BRIND.

Z.

F.

j

S. i

"King

after the display of the fascinations of

by the natives of Trinidad, British West Indies, is one

the male, the female decided to investigate the pot, and followed him cautiously.

schomburgki,

Polycentrus

Cascarob," as

of

my

it

earliest favorites

among

tially tropical fishes, as I

I

minute

the essen-

procured a pair

The

from secured them gave me the most

in the spring of 1910.

whom

or

called

is

instructions

aquarist

how

on

to

breed

The

inspection being satisfactory, the eggs were deposited on the ceiling of the pot, to which they adhered closely. This

accomplished, the male chased his mate into the farthest corner of the tank, and

was necessary to provide a suitable home, and as a uniform temperature of about 80 degrees Fahrenheit was needed, I had my first tropical aquarium

them.

It

built.

This provided the exact condi-

tions

prevalent in the tropics, namely,

warm water and atmosphere above it, and deep, rich soil for the plants, which insured a splendid growth.

The

pair

showed

soon

nounced approval of at

my

their

efiforts,

pro-

for they

once entered into possession of the

"palace," which laid

upon

was

its side,

a six-inch flower pot Polycentrus schomburgki

with the entrance fac-

ing sidewise to the east

;

the

aquarium

faced south. The maneuvers of the fish were comical. The male began by adopting an intense blue-black color, with white spots in diagonal rows on the sides.

His eyes gleamed like live coals. The entire fish was a scant two inches long, and was full-grown. The female was light pinkish brown, with a decided salmon-tinted patch on the abdomen, The male indicative of ripe spawn. swam about her in a most amusing manner, sometimes backwards, then sideways, again with his body at an angle, but all the while watching her closely with fiery eyes. Finally he retired within the flower pot, swimming backwards until he was entirely out of sight.

Soon

made her

At

"stay put."

removed her

this

time

I

to another tank, otherwise,

unless prevented by the male, she would

have eagerly devoured the eggs.

From posited,

days

the

and

moment

stream of

As soon hung to

his

soft,

three

male assiduously fanned

later, the

them with

the eggs were de-

they hatched,

until

fins,

warm

sending a constant water among them.

as hatched the

little fish literally

the leaves of the plants.

A

few

days later, having developed sufficiently, they detached themselves and chased infusorians, later devoviring tiny Daphne.

As soon

as they

had grown

sufficiently to

male was aquarium. {Polycentrus, many spines; schomburgki, in honor of Schomburgk.) resemble

moved

their

to his

parents,

mate

the

in the other

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

SiquatU lilt

158

Carp Culture

We

in

Japan

are pleased to submit the followfrom the Imperial Fish-

ing information

Bureau, Tokyo, Japan, on carp culture, which we believe will be of interest to the many readers of "Aquatic Life"

one and one-half acres), 240,000 fish, weighing a momme (3.7 grams), or 5400 or 10 momme (37 grams) each, can be In the second year

harvested.

eries

fish are raised

five to six

per tsubo (six square feet)

and should weigh a pound and

of pond,

:

The propagation

of

carpio, has been practiced

times, and the business

Cyprinus

carp,

from ancient is

present

at

established in nearly all parts of

Japan,

but the most important districts are the warmer parts of Nagano, Gifu, Aichi

German carp was

and Shizuoka. introduced in distributed

first

1904, and the fry have been

among

the districts, but so far

not welcomed in the marThe fish are raised in all parts in ket. freshwater bodies, ranging from large this species

two or three fish, weighing two and one-half pounds each, are

the final period

yielded per tsubo.

When

used the fry are

rice-fields are

liberated in the spring,

when

planted in the watered

field,

at harvest

the rice

is

and caught

The

time in autumn.

fish

are

fed on silkworms, rice bran, rice flour,

wheat

flour,

is

lakes having an area of several

In

a quarter at the end of the period.

bean cake and various other

Alvin Burmeister, ManaCompany.

vegetables.

ager, Pacific Goldfish

hundred

thousand acres down to swamps, moats, marshes, ponds, open sewages and rice

The

true naturalist

not limited to

is

any one branch of nature-study. Though

even several square yards. The water-depth is generally three to four

he

ular branch,

if

and standing water and streams are In the mountainous equally suitable.

persistently,

he will find that he must

Nagano, Gifu, Yamanaused shi and Yamagata, running water is for the ponds or moats.

Two methods of propagation are practiced, the "natural" and the "contracted" In the former the seed fish, or plans.

closely connected with

fields of

feet,

regions, such as

fry, are liberated in natural lakes. is

This

practiced in the lakes of Biwa, Kasu-

may make

inform

may

he

I

have received a

orders for Enchytrse

made

a

is

to raise seed-fish or fry.

pond of a thousand tsubo (about

line

order that

ing

I

life,

lot

of replies and

worms and

a shipment to England,

from

my

advertisements

inclose one dollar to

Aquatic

renew

Life.

recently

all

in

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Charles B. Jenne.

scription to

From

other

in

it,

and

better understand the one of his

perimental Station has a plan to hereafter place two million fish a year in

chief objective

some

on

partic-

closely

it

choice.

Life.

waters are of small area, such as artificial ponds, moats and rice-field ditches.

The system naturally divides into three periods, known as first, second and thirdyear growing. During the first year the

he follows

himself

migaura and Kitaura. Since 1908 eight million young carp have been freed in Lake Biwa. The Ibaragi Fishery Ex-

Lakes Kasumigaura and Kitaura.

In the contracted or compact plan, the

some

a specialty of

result-

Aquatic

my

sub-

sure has

It

gives life and saves lives.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; N. Ol-

GER Helgesen.

In the United States alone, the Carp

family numbers upwards of two hundred species.

The whole scheme nature and

and

its

man

reward

is

of things, both in

creations certain.

is

efficiency,

Vallisneria Spiralis C.

J.

HEEDE

i

The

subject of this article, VaUisncriu

Tape or

the

spiralis,

Eel-grass,

is

well

known

to most aquarists. It ranks a close second to the species of Sagittaria in

popularity, though

oxygenator, and

is

it is

not inferior as an

particularly useful in

The

aquaria.

self-sustaining

generic

name, Vallisneria, was given by Carolus

plasts (the grains of green coloring ter)

matarrange themselves toward the

to

strongest light.

In

the

widely

United

States

distributed

streams

from

eastward.

in

the

Our

J^allisneria

is

ponds and slow

Mississippi

native

plants,

Valley

though

presenting no botanical distinctions, dif-

Linneaus, the father of botany, in his

Species Plantarum, 1753, and was in honor of Antonio Vallisneri, an Italian naturalist who wrote on plants and insects during the eighteenth century. specific

name,

The

spiralis, refers to the habit

of the stalk bearing the female flower.

The

species

is

dioecious,

which means

that the sexes are distinct, an individual

bearing either male or female flowers, but not both.

has

its

The female or

origin in the

pistillate

flower

and

rootstock.

is

born to the surface on a long, slender, Here it meets the male spiral stalk. flower, its

which had become detached from

short stalk at the base of the staminate

and pollination

plant,

is

eft'ected.

stalk of the pistillate flower recoils

the seeds ripen below the surface.

The and

Typical Vallisneria spiralis (female plant) and the

Form With Tortuous Leaves

and habits from the more European form. They are broad-leaved, coarser, and do not thrive throughout the year and multiply in the fer in aspect

desirable

This

aquarium.

method of sexual reproduction is rather uncertain, and is supplemented by multiplication by stolons or runners from the rootstock, from the terminal of which

sometimes

develops a

even

in

plant asexually.

Smith, in his book.

leaves are ribbon-like,

width throughout their length, the

leaf -cells

have long been a favorite

object, with microscopists to demonstrate

the

movement

tents,

of the protoplasmic con-

and the tendency of the chloro-

as

it

is

long to American

so

rium, remarks that

abruptly rounded, and brilliant green.

The

known

Several

The

or,

aquarists that the native plant is seldom used.

As far back as 1902, Eugene

often be found attached in

manner.

this

tip

new

may

plants

has been

The European,

called, the Italian Vallisneria,

The Home Aquait

is

to be preferred

to the native form,

to

and adds that it seems be represented here by male plants

only.

A

foreign publication has reported a

form with tortuous leaves that is said to thrive in aquaria and maintain its characteristics.

The statement

is

made

that

—

<aquatU litt

160

was

it

which

collected in California,

is

undoubtedly an error, as the species does not range west of the Mississippi Valley.

Too make certain that this range was correct,

Mr.

T.

F.

Brady,

aquarist, ascertained

a

California

from Prof. H. M.

Hall, University of California, that the species

was not known

to occur within

the State, nor beyond the limit given.

"barrel" that

was

the

to convince one "swearing off" had

sufficient

time

for

arrived.

The

Association, though

in its in-

still

made wonderful strides in membership.

Five new members were enrolled at the meeting, and the names fancy,

has

of two women fish fanciers, Mrs. H. A. Altpeter and Mrs. F. F. Schneider, were

added

to the

list

—the

first

women

to be-

come members.

President Cassell read letters of acceptance from Professor Caswell Grave, Department of Biology John Hopkins University, Dr. Hugh M. Smith,

Cells from leaf of Vallisneria spiralis (greatly enlarged) showing

chloroplasts the green coloring matter

To grow sturdy, bright green plants, the bottom of the tank should be quite Though it will do well in sand rich. alone in an old tank with the bottom enriched by the droppings of the fishes, it is

some sort of with the mixed Leaf mould

usually advisable to use

fertilizer.

sand is preferable. In changing plants from one aquarium to another it is well to have the water in both receptacles of

same temperature. The roots should be well spread and deep planting avoided. the

A study of microscopic animal life specimens from the aquaria of members was the feature of the meeting of The Aquatic Association of Maryland held on the evening of July ii, in the Lexington

—

Building Annex, Baltimore.

The members were "tipped off" vance, and

were

jars

when and

ad-

the meeting began there

hand, each holding prized specimens to be scrutinized through the microscope.

Daphnia, Cyclops, larva of mosquitoes, eggs of fishes, frogs and snails,

all

—

The Essex County Aquarium Society, Newark, N. J., will hold its second annual exhibition from September 13th to T6th inclusive.

brary,

passed

Some

of

the embryonic snails could be seen doing gymnastic stunts. A glance through the

The Newark Public

Broad and Washington

Li-

streets,

has kindly consented to have the exhibition staged in the library building, and has promised very desirable space.

The show will be competitive and is Five silver cups are open to anyone. offered as prizes, together with the usual A large first, second and third ribbons. silver cup will be awarded to the society having the largest entry.

Information and entry blanks will be furnished upon application by the secretary of the Exhibition

in

bottles in great variety on

parade-like beneath the lens.

Commissioner, H. F. Moore, Deputy Commissioner and Henry O'Malley, Fish Culturist, United States Bureau of Fisheries, all having been elected honorary members. These gentlemen, all of whom occupy enviable niches in the world of science, expressed sincere interest and promised hearty co-operation. P. C. Ch.^mbliss, Secretary.

Committee.

Entries are invited from the aquarists of Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and from other points from which the transportation

expense

will not be great.

The

first

given by the society lasted but a day, and was non-competitive, yet was exceptionally successful.

A public

large it

was

exhibition

number

shown and Hartshorn,

of fishes were

well attended.

— H.

I.

Exhibition Committee, Myrtle avenue, Neivark, N.J. Secretary,

12

Danio Analipunctatus ERNEST LEITHOLF i

Clean

attractively colored, lively

cut,

and well disposed towards other inhabitants of an aquarium, Danio analipunctatus, a native of Rangoon, India, is rapidly equalling the more familiar Danio rerio in popularity. Both sexes are alike

The

the distribution of the colors.

in

back

is

olive

sides with a silvery lateral

;

dered above and below with blue the

its

eggs are the largest, and for

this reason

the

it is

number

not as prolific in so far as

of eggs in a single delivery

While courting the fish active, and playfully chase each other incessantly, but do not indulge in fin-mauling, to which many fishes are addicted.

While forcing her are concerned. are

exceedingly

and bor-

orange

with

suffused

stripe

genus,

lines,

lower one somewhat broader and

The

iridescent.

lines are carried faintly

through the caudal very, with a

minate

Abdomen

fin.

row of blue spots

sil-

that ter-

a cluster at the base of the

in

is spotted, and from which the species derives the specific name analipunctatus, meaning "spotted

anal

which

fin,

Ventral, anal and dorsal fins edged with grayish white, the first two anal."

faintly spotted

;

pectorals colorless.

This species makes no particular de-

mands

far

as

cerned.

When

as

maintenance

short of space

I

Danio analipunctatus

con-

is

have used

way through

the dense

growth of

plants,

aquaria holding less than a gallon, and

the female expells or "sprays" the non-

they seemed content and proceeded to

adhesive eggs, which

A

spawn.

large, well-planted tank

course, to be preferred.

is,

of

Neither are they

exacting in the matter of foods, as they will readily

kinds.

To

partake of the usual prepared

insure virile spawn, and when-

even obtainable. Daphne, larvae of mosquitoes,

and other

live

foods should be

furnished.

Spawning occurs every two or three days for a period of several weeks, and,

may number from The male by being near

several to a dozen or more.

manages his mate

to

"do his

bit"

to fertilize the eggs before they

reach the bottom.

The orgasm

peated several times during the day.

is

re-

The

eggs will hatch thirty-six hours to four

days

later,

according to the temperature,

which should be about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Unable to swim freely for a day or two, the young hang upon the plants

happen again and so on throughout the greater part of the summer. Though

and sides of the tank. From this time, and until large enough to eat tiny Daphne, they need an abundant supply

smaller

of microsopic

after a rest interval of a

week or two,

will

than

the

other

species

of

the

life.

—

jftquatU JLitt

162

few youngsters aquarium with the reasonable numbers are

Geophagus Jurupari

It is possible to raise a

in a densely planted

parents, but

if

desired, either the parents or the eggs

must be removed

of glass rods or tubes the

snugly,

Or

be saved by using a frame

may

the eggs

to another vessel.

rods

made

a

to

fit

the tank

distance

sufficient

ERNEST LEITHOLF Like the other species of the genus

known

to the aquarian, Geophagus jurucomes from South America, and is found in the pools and small lakes of the Amazon region. The fish seems to have

pari

been

confusing

Schomburgk bucostictus,

perca

Guntber

called

The

surinainensis.

Geophagus it

Scatono-

have Geophagus

others

with

identical

it

ichthyologists.

as

it

while

leucosticta,

thought

the

to

classified

natives call

it

Juru-

meaning "Devil's Angle."

Mandee, in his Year Book for 191 1, describes it and assumes that its habits

pari Pinda,

are similar to those of the others of the

™V

/'ji5fv<.''V'-\

Spawning Tank

Showing Frame apart

permit

to

Danio

for

in Position

eggs

the

pass

to

be-

tween.

No

and the

sides of the tank should exist, as

crevices between the frame

the fish might to the

manage

to

make

their

"forbidden ground" below.

way

When

spawn is observed upon the bottom, the frame should be taken out and the eggs removed to a hatching vessel, using a diptube to gather them.

Geophagus jurupari

had not been bred and indeed have not been able to find any referApparently

genus.

in captivity I

ence to

The fishes.

at its

sense of pain

A

own

very feeble

trout has been eye, placed

insensibility

and other

is

known

on a hook.

among to bite

Similar

has been noted in the pike

fishes.

Jordan.

its

up

habits in

That analogy apparent

in

my

—

—

poet."

more

recent works.

dangerous

will

next paragraph.

and

colors,

become The fish has

the

vicious

temperament

hence

not apt to enjoy a great degree

is

of popularity.

Christy.

"The alligator can go six months without eating."

Long Locks. "Just the pet for a

is

attractive

lacks

it

to that time,

Its

of

its

relatives,

breeding habits are

decidedly peculiar, however, and for this

reason

Give

it is

this

well worth observation.

Geophagus a roomy aqua-

rium, several inches of sand, a

flat

stone

or two, and the proper warmth, about 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and its fancy is very

Keep thy shop open and advertise in Aquatic Life, and thy shop will keep

apt to turn to thoughts of love.

thee.

being consummated,

its

This

peculiar habits

j9qiiatic

become

will

apparent.

A

convenient

be selected, and beneath

stone will

it,

liCe

163

and has been worthless.

It

regarded is

as

abundant

practically

in the

Great

from end to end, a tunnel will be dug.

Here the eggs will soon be deposited.

When the young appear the parents guard them and lead them about the aquarium after the manner of the cichlids.

A hasty approach, or any action deemed hostile will cause the parents and

product to the market, but also will tend to reduce the relative abundance of a

brood to hastily retreat into their cov-

species

ered trench, there to await the passing of

the

the danger, though in the

meantime one

Lakes and in sluggish waters from Minnesota and New York to Florida and Texas.

The proper will

which

other

valued

utilization of this species

only add another commercial

not

is

fishes

in the

most predacious upon that are more highly

fresh state.

of the adults will appear at the opposite

opening, apparently ready and eager to

charge any possible

foe.

Mr. Robert J. Macrory, of the Pittsburgh Aquarium Society, is the only aquarist, to the best of my knowledge, who has succeeded in spawning this species, and it was his pair that I observed as described. Unfortunately none of the

young survived

to maturity.

The

stone

under which the tunnel was dug measured fully

five inches^ in diameter.

Smoked

Dogfish

smoking various spefish, begun at the Fairport, Mich., station of the United States Bureau of Fisheries about two Experiments

cies

of

in

fresh-water

years ago, have yielded

interesting rePterophyllum scalare

sults.

The

bowfin, or grindle. which usually

regarded as practically worthless, has

Paullin's

Pterophyllum

scalare

have

who

spawned again This is not a startling announcement because it has happened a number of times, but very few aquar-

have eaten samples have spoken of the

ians have been privileged to witness the

and flavor of the meat, and some have pronounced it the best of smoked fish.

operation.

Further experiments are being made with a view to obtaining a product which will appeal to the trade in appear-

pairs of eyes "glued to the glass," the

is

been

found

to

yield

a

very

superior

product when properly smoked. All excellent texture

ance and quality.

The bowfin is generally known through the Mississippi Basin as dogfish.

!

It

is

doubtful

if

ment attends the function species.

Utterly

oblivious

in

less excite-

any other to

several

Other than the somewhat methodical movements of the fish, little out of the ordinary would have been apparent to the average man. A broad, curved leaf of Sagittaria had been sepair proceeded.

164

Slqixatit

lilt have spawned a number of times

fish

during the past few years, but once has

An international monthly magazine devoted to the study, care and breeding of native, exotic, domesticated fishes, other animals and plants in the home aquarium and terrarium. gold and

POYSER JOSEPH E. BAUSMAN W.

he succeeded in

Publisher

542 E. Girard Avenue, Philadelphia.

Entered as second-class matter, September 1915, at the Post Office, Philadelphia, Pa., under Act of March 3, 1879.

Aquatic Life has

circulation

largest

the

of

any magazine in the world devoted to this It presents to adbranch of nature-study. market that can be reached a vertisers through no other medium. Rates made known on application. $1.00 Yearly Subscription 1.35 Foreign Subscriptions 10 Copy Payments may be made by money order, draft

Single

Foreign remittances letter. registered If should be by international money order. local checks are sent, ten cents should be added for collection charges.

or

Copyright 1917 by Joseph E. Bausman

Vol.

August,

II

lected to bear the

The Toledo Aquarium

In connection with the aquarium there

No. 12

Slowly, with

ovipositor extended, the female, with her

body

at

the leaf

an angle of 45 degrees, ascended and expelled an egg. The male

followed leisurely, and fertilization was effected.

the leaf,

were

The eggs normally adhere to many

but in the present case

falling

to

the

exhibition.

Dr. A. de Clairmont has in press a pamphlet for free distribution, giving the story of the aquarium, as far as

in a

the parents,

those

stage.

who

desire to join in the

movement

be a source of handsome profits

it

will

in

more ways than one.

The present exhibition found

consists of food

in

the vicinity of Toledo.

In spite of the

cramped space available

fishes

for the exhibition, the tanks present a

of any other aquarium in the States.

The

Aquarists'

Vade Mecum

During September the title page and index to the present volume will be pub-

Copy

lished.

will be

mailed to readers

who request it upon receipt of stamp.

Volume II, in substantial cloth bindwith

ing,

title

page and comprehensive

warm

pages, and about the

temperature

which they adhere, by

when

now

index, will be ready for distribution Oc-

For in about two and one-half days. about a week the fry are moved from leaf to leaf, to

it is

and how it is proposed to establish in this city one of the largest marine aquariums in the United States, which promises not only to be a source of educational interest and pleasure, but to built,

tober

The eggs hatch

The Aquarium Book

Shop, to help pay the expenses of the

bottom and being

devoured.

swimming

will be established

very favorable appearance, equal to those

1917

eggs.

to

fin-race;

The temporary home of the Toledo Aquarium was opened to the public on Monday, July 2, at 223 Superior street.

2,

Practical articles and notes on topics pertaining to the aquarium and terrarium are always wanted for Aquatic Life. Readers of the magazine are invited to join in making it a medium of mutual help, and to contribute The to it any ideas that may occur to them. pages are always open for anyone who has anything helpful and practical to say. Manuscripts, books for review and general correspondence should be addressed to the editor.

young

the

scalar e, a ladder, to climb.)

Editor

A.

raising

{Pterophyllum,

maturity.

they reach the free-

Though Mr.

Paullin's

The

1st.

volume contains 164 same number of

some in color. Price, $2.25, Inasmuch as the number is

illustrations,

postpaid.

limited, orders should be placed at once.

The

cloth edition of the first

volume was

exhausted within four months.

—

y

n rOSCAR

30ooc^:zr:Doooc:^i=3oooc

vyvi<

mo

«

:

Otto Walter

Brooklyn, N. T. Wear Evergreen Avenue L Station

86 Su2?dam

Street

Telescopes

PLANTS

GOLDFISHES

5-

Calicos

Japs

Planorbis

Fan-tails

inm-K

AND

«

K

—

Write

\

u-inoi

«-iR

& Japs, $2

1309

L..

per 100 Eggs

Regular and Baby Fishfood,

piiblislied

Is

Club,

lUc.

Box

W. E. WALP NORTH 55TH STREET PH1L.AI>EL,PHIA

LORQUINIA— The

hy

the

and contains original of the West.

clufling

ol)servatit)ns

Associate $1.50 per year.

particularly

suliscription,

Natural

Lortiuui

of

Histury

naturalists,

meiubership,

in-

which can be raised inyear round.

Portion 50c (cash or order) with instruction how to breed them

all

money

CHARLES

West

Street.

23r<l

Ivos

Angeles. Cal.

%\\ l^driettrs

George's Imperial Fish Food 10c Postpaid Dried Shrimp Box lOc, per pound 60c :

:

:

AQUARIA

PLANTS

ALL SUPPLIES

W. 60th and De Lancey

N.

EDWARD

S.

Emporium All

Food

Utility

712 Twelfth

Street. N.

Taxidermy

Hundreds of breeding Cuppies The most beautiful ones you ever saw. Your choice 25c each. Large breeding Helleri 75c each.

All kinds of Snails and Tropical Fishes. .

VARJE, 1361 N. Clark

V.

SCHMID

All

Chicago,

111

aquaria fish thrive on

RELPAW Natural Ask

Imported Hygienic

Fisti

Any

Food. 10c Box

First

Dealer

Class

Lilies

W., Washington. D. C. Send tor Catalog

re

ENGRAVERS

»«

N.

WAPLER. Importer

28

Warren

St..

N. Y. City

'"n

YOU

IF

Are Looking for Something Extra Fine in Broad -tail Telescopes

8

Don't Forget

GOULD WILHELNCQ!^' ^

St.,

Telephone, Superior 4415

PROMPT SERVICE GUARANTEED

N.4T-"

Chicago, IlL

Street,

FOR SALE —

oj Hets

3

44

Fishes.

CANADIAN BIRD STORE, West Van Buren

Street. Philadelphia

BETTER CUTS AT ^BETTER PRICES ARTISTS

for

;

Kinds of Goldfishes and Aquatic Plants

Water

J.

Per pound, coarse, 75c. fine ground, $1.

St. George's Natural Fish Food, $1.50 lb.

Sample can, 15 c Add postage to your zone

(Lebistes reticulatus )

(I5olliti0& ^i

JENNE

DRIED SHRIMP The General

2139

GEORGE'S GOLDFISH SHOP

E.

1577 Paterson Plank Road, Secaucus. N.

LOKQUIN NATURAL HISTORY CLUB. 1051

(White Worms)

ideal live fish food

Monthly of the Southwest

Naturalist's

niontlUy

3COOC

ENCHYTRAE The

doors X.

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rubra

for Price List

IZIZDOCOC

GOLDFISH SPAWN From Choice Telescopes

Var.

Aquarium: 281 Southern Avenue

SUPPLIES ^s

irmr-M

SNAILS corneus

Paludina ^ivipara

Dealer in All Varietiei of Aquatic Plants All Kinds of Fish Foods Fresh and Dried Daphnia

AQUARIA. UTENSILS

Pittsburgh, Pa.

-

TROPICAL FISHES

Breeder and Importer of

TROPICAL

LEITHOLF

433 Fourth Avenue

::

W.

H.

H EI M BACH

Breeder and Importer of Snails

PHOTOGRAPHERS

FISH

STREET PHILA.

FOR SALE AT ALL TIMES 413

SEND FOR SAMPLESA^iPRICESTHEY WILL INTEREST YOU

—

Rrv

FINE FISH

Plants

u-rv-M

!

North Tenth Street AULENTOWN, Pa. inm-y-

tnryv

x-inru

i

i

nS

HERMAN RABENAU,

Use Regenia Aquarium Salts To replace the natural salts in your aquarium as absorbed by the fishes and snails.

Aquarist

PERMANENT DISPLAY OF must be seen

Excellent for plants. Help the snails form shell.

Benefits the fish.

Box of Six Powders, 25c.

For sale at Pet Stock stores.

& Terraria

Aquatic Life

to be appreciated

Visitors

Welcoine

Violet-Ray Fish

Plants and Tropical Fish a Specialty

New

Importations of

regularly Urookl.vn.

N.

Station K.

Manufacturing and Maintenance of Aquariums a Specialty Kinds of Cat and Dog Foods and Medicines

All

Comets a ELGIN

K.

Specialty

BRUCE, THORNBURG,

HUDSON TERMINAL BUILDING Concourse,

lA.

"AQUARIA FISH" A

flsh

in

I-^inely illustrated.

I^ver.v

I

one

Collie

Pups,

and

Route

2,

one

piece, seamless

Finished in antique bronze

Rock Gardens, Ponds and Decorations Conservatory.

All

for the

Lawn and

Kinds of Tropical Fishes

and Aquarium Supphes

beautifull.v

For

TAPPAN

Sale— Forty Mountain Trout from

1361 N. Clark Street

Hopkins, Minn.

::

Glacier National Park

Chicago,

Illinois

Telephone, Superior 4415

FRANKLIN BARRETT EVERYTHING COMPLETE FOR THE AQUARIUM, POND AND LAKE ji Wyoming Avenue, & C Street, PKila., SEND FOR PRICE LISTS

All in

rust-proof.

or imitation of any wood.

marked.

F. L.

strongest steel aquarium on

market.

the

^li slionld id for interested in Iceepi Price, $1. a copy of this liook.

Four-Horned Snails (Anipullaria Gigas) deposit a ni.'iss of large coral red eggs out of the water, the little snails drop into the water as they liatcli. These snails are invaliiahle for destroying IIy<lra in the aquarium.

Thoroughbred

make the

New York

SCRIMSHAW

S. A.

work on care and breeding of the Aquarium. Greentioiise and out-

practical

door Ponds.

Philadelphia

PETS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION AND KIND

Retail Dealer in

Kinds of Goldfish

All

Rot,

THE TERMINAL PET SHOP

THE BRUCE FISHERIES &

Tail

REGENIA CHEMICAL CO.

Y.

Near Broadway.

Breeder, Importer, Wholesale

Remedy

Fungus,

Con.ii'estion in taiic.v fishes; also white spots on Tropical fishes.

Box of Six Powders, Safe and effective.

25c.

Varieties received

Myrtle Avenue.

1163

Constipation.

Relieves

j

Fine

Telescopes BLACK & CALICO

Broad-tail

Correspondence Solicited Pa.

GEORGE

WILT. 1519 N. 62nd

Street

PHILADELPHIA

EVERYTHING IS FISH THAT COMES TO THE NET OF A NATURALIST Don't paddle eyes.

water with one hand and be blind with both words "keep your eyes open for all nature.

in the

In other

"

Our Magazine

Utf

CBuiDe to i^ature Will Help You

It is edited by EDWARD F. BIGELOW, who fishes in the heavens and earth, as well as the waters under the earth.

Four months'

trial, 25c.

One

year, $1.00

THE AGASSIZ ASSOCIATION •Arc^di-A.

Sound Beach

Connecticut

—

!

New Aquarium Book GOLDFISH

AND

VARIETIES

TROPICAL AQUARIUM FISHES

By Wm.

T. Itities

tlie V. S. Bureau is It Fistieries and leadiuj? fanciers. practical in every respect, and is written so plainly that a beginner may 170 beaueasily understand every point. tiful illustrations, mostly from life, includ19 chapters. ing prize winning Goldfishes.

Gives alphabetical list of 300 aquarium fishes, their breeding, foods, temperatures

This work

is

enrtorseJ by

of

tlioroiiglily

and care in detail.

Sent anywhere upon receipt

of Trice $3.00

Perfect Photograph of the Best Moor Goldfish Life-size, Natural,

We

Extremely Handsome

Price 50c

enclose one of these prints with each copy of our new book, "Goldfish VaAquarium Fishes," Tropical rieties and where we send two or more books at retail to one address. will

INNES & SONS, PubHshers 129 135 N. 12th Street -

Philadelphia II

inm-ii

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3(

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TEN VARIETIES OF BEAUTIFUL AQUARIUM PLANTS for $1.00 Postpaid J.

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What's the Object?

See you later mg — AQUARIUM STOCK CO jocxK

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n

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GOLDFISH, FOODS, PUNTS, SNAILS, ETC. |

J 8 X U

Combination Natural Fish Food - Sample Can 10c Sample Can 15c Imported Shrimp Fish Food Imported Wafer Fish Food Large Sample Box 10c

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Special Prices on Quantity Lots

Cash With Order

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Catalogue Sent Upon Request

U

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Orders amounting $2 delivered postpaid.

Mail orders promptly attended to.

8

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1210 N. Warnock

Street, Philadelphia,

PETERS

I

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Pa

BREEDER AND IMPORTER Rare and Fancy Fish Plants

FLORISTS

every variety,

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of

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kinds at

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MANUFACTURER OF

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110

South 52nd

Green River Fish Food

Street

15c Box

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8 keeps the fish in good color by proIt y moting a healthy, robust growth.

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Young Young

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Awarded Gold and

§

DOOOOOOOOOOOOC 3000000000I